Penn State University is facing challenges due to declining enrollments, demographic changes, and financial issues, leading to a decision to potentially close some of its branch campuses. In a statement released on the university’s website, President Neeli Bendapudi announced that an internal team will evaluate 12 of Penn State’s 19 branch campuses for possible closure, with recommendations expected by the spring commencement.
The campuses at risk are the smaller ones, as Penn State plans to keep its seven largest branch campuses—Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley—open. Bendapudi cited persistent declines in student numbers and population projections in nearby areas as key factors necessitating change.
“The current situation demands difficult choices to secure a robust future for Penn State,” noted Bendapudi. “The sustainability of our Commonwealth Campus system is in question, making it imperative to consider certain closures.”
Historically, these smaller campuses predominantly draw students from their surrounding communities. However, declining local populations have made sustaining these enrollments through external recruitment increasingly unrealistic. Last fall, approximately 6,000 students attended the 12 smaller campuses, out of a total of around 23,000 across all branch locations.
Bendapudi reaffirmed that the university’s other specialized campuses—the Great Valley graduate education site, Penn State Dickinson Law, the College of Medicine, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology—will continue operations. Importantly, no closures will occur before the conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year.
